Protector for the heels of boots or shoes



(No Model.)

H K. FOR-BIS.

PROTECTOR FOR THE HEELS 0F BOOTS OR SHOES. No. 279,559. Patented June 19,1883.

v INVEplTfiR:

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HABBERT K. FORBIS, or COLUMBUS, oHIo.

PROTECTOR FOR THE HEEL S OF BOOTS OR SHOES SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 279,559, dated June Application filed November 11, 188?. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARBERT K. FoRms, a citizen of the United States, residing at Go lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Protector for Boot or Shoe Heels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for preventing boot or shoe heels from'wearing off or running over at the sides or edges; and the objects of my invention are to strengthen that portion of the heel most liable to be worn off without leaving projections over the surface thereof, and also prevent the edges of the leather from becoming loose around the protector. ll attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accon'ipanying drawings, in which- Figure 1' is a bottom view of a boot-heel having my protector attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the protector. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of aboot-heel carrying the protector.

. At that point on the surface of the heel B which it is desired to strengthen a cut is made of the required shape and depth to receive the keystone or wedge-shaped steel plate A, formed with curved or convex ends. This plate, having converging sides, can be fitted and driven in position until. the larger end thereof will conform to and become a part of the curve of the heels edge. .The broader surface of the plate A is by this means brought on alevel with the surface of the heel. This plate A is constructed with its outer or roughened sur face broader than its inner surface, so that a when secured in position in the cavity made when distended by water during wet weather.

This plate is firmly secured in place by means of two screws, a, which pass through holes I) therein. The holes I) are countersunk} to bring the heads of the screws a little below the surface of the plate A. This surface is made rough by means of parallel incisions or grooves runningdiagonally across the plate from the sides, forming small teeth and ridges, asshown in the accompanying drawings, to enable the wearer to walk with safety over smooth and slippery places.

By the use of the above-described device it will be seen that the wear 011 the leather adjoining the protector is very slight, the hard steel plate being capable of resisting a much greater amount of wear than the leather.

I am aware that prior to my invention plates of various forms have been used to prevent the running over of boot or shoe heels; but they differ from mine in adaptability produced by their form and in the bevel given to their sides, as above stated.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A heel-protecting plate having both of its ends convexly curved, its sides converging, and its roughened outer surface broader than its opposite surface, substantially as and for the purpose described.

, HARBERT K. FORBIS.

Witnesses CHESTER G. SHEPHERD, THOMAS A. BEATON. 

